Vehicle camera with modular construction

ABSTRACT

A camera assembly for a vision system of a vehicle includes a front housing portion having a lens, a circuit board having an imager and circuitry having an electrical connecting element, and a rear housing portion having a rear attachment portion and a mounting portion configured to attach at a vehicle. When the front housing portion is joined with the rear housing portion, the electrical connecting element of the circuit board is generally aligned with an aperture of the attachment plate and a connecting end of an electrical connector protrudes through the aperture to electrically connect with the electrical connecting element of the circuit board. A structural element of the electrical connector is attached at the attachment plate of the bracket to seal the aperture and to maintain electrical connection of the connecting end of the electrical connector with the electrical connecting element of the circuit board.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the filing benefits of U.S. provisionalapplication Ser. No. 62/251,242 filed Nov. 5, 2015, which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a vehicle vision system for avehicle and, more particularly, to a vehicle vision system that utilizesone or more cameras at a vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Use of imaging sensors in vehicle imaging systems is common and known.Examples of such known systems are described in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,949,331; 5,670,935 and/or 5,550,677, which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties. Various cameras are known, suchas described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,965,336 and//or 8,542,451, which arehereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a camera assembly configured for mountingat a vehicle. The camera assembly comprises a camera module or unit(having a lens assembly, imager and circuit element or circuit board andassociated circuitry) and a bracket for receiving or attaching to thecamera unit and for mounting the camera at the vehicle. An electricalconnector is received at a rear portion of the bracket and electricallyconnects with the circuitry of the circuit element for electricallyconnecting the circuitry to a wiring harness of a vehicle or the like.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a camera assembly for avision system of a vehicle includes a camera, a bracket and anelectrical connector. The camera includes a lens assembly, an imagerdisposed on a circuit element, and an outer camera housing portion. Thecircuit element has a connector disposed at a surface thereof generallyopposite the imager. The bracket comprises an outer bracket housingportion, an attachment plate and a mounting portion. The mountingportion is configured to attach at a vehicle. The electrical connectorhas a connector plate and a connecting end at the connector plate. Theouter camera housing portion mates with the outer bracket housingportion and, when so mated or attached, the connector of the circuitelement is generally aligned with an aperture of the attachment plateand the connecting end of the electrical connector protrudes through theaperture to electrically connect with the connector of the circuitelement. The connector plate is attached at the attachment plate of thebracket to seal the connector at the bracket.

Thus, the present invention provides a modular camera design that allowsfor easy adaptation into multiple applications, and reduced part countin the assembly. Automotive cameras require a method of absorbing thetolerances associated with alignment of the image sensor relative to thelens. Typically, this is done by allowing the housing to vary inposition relative to the lens or by implementing flexible printedcircuits, both of which increase the size of the camera. The presentinvention provides a method of absorbing these tolerances using a newconnector-plate concept, which provides a much smaller size and theleast impact to the packaging of the camera in the vehicle. In addition,the camera housing is integrated as part of the camera bracket to reducethe part count, cost, and complexity of the assembly. Variousbracket-housings and connector-plates can then be interchanged to adaptthe camera to multiple applications. The modular connector-plate conceptalso allows for ultrasonic welding, a preferred joining method.Ultrasonic welding requires large flat surface areas, which are achievedby assembling the connector plate to the bracket-housing after welding.Finally, a novel harness design is provided as one of the potentialconnector plate options.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of thepresent invention will become apparent upon review of the followingspecification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a vehicle with a vision system thatincorporates cameras in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a camera assembly having a modularmounting bracket in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the camera assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another camera assembly having a wireharness connected thereto;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the mounting bracket of the presentinvention, without the imager and lens and camera housing disposedthereat;

FIG. 6 is a rear plan view of the mounting bracket of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is another perspective view of the mounting bracket of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is another rear plan view of the mounting bracket of FIG. 5,shown without the electrical connector;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another mounting bracket of the presentinvention, showing optional weld ribs to facilitate fastening of theconnector plate of the electrical connector;

FIG. 10 is a rear plan view of the mounting bracket of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is another rear plan view of the mounting bracket of FIG. 9,showing the connector plate disposed at the seal and weld ribs;

FIG. 12 is a partial rear plan view of the mounting bracket andconnector of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the camera assembly of the presentinvention, shown with the camera attached at the mounting bracket viawelding;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of another camera assembly of the presentinvention, shown with the camera attached at the mounting bracket viafasteners;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of another bracket for a camera assemblyof the present invention, showing a latch feature for attaching thebracket at a vehicle;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of another camera assembly of the presentinvention, showing mounting flanges for attaching the bracket to avehicle via fasteners; and

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the bracket of the camera assembly ofFIG. 16.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A vehicle vision system and/or driver assist system and/or objectdetection system and/or alert system operates to capture images exteriorof the vehicle and may process the captured image data to display imagesand to detect objects at or near the vehicle and in the predicted pathof the vehicle, such as to assist a driver of the vehicle in maneuveringthe vehicle in a rearward direction. The vision system includes an imageprocessor or image processing system that is operable to receive imagedata from one or more cameras and provide an output to a display devicefor displaying images representative of the captured image data.Optionally, the vision system may provide display, such as a rearviewdisplay or a top down or bird's eye or surround view display or thelike.

Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depictedtherein, a vehicle 10 includes an imaging system or vision system 12that includes at least one exterior facing imaging sensor or camera,such as a rearward facing imaging sensor or camera 14 a (and the systemmay optionally include multiple exterior facing imaging sensors orcameras, such as a forwardly facing camera 14 b at the front (or at thewindshield) of the vehicle, and a sidewardly/rearwardly facing camera 14c, 14 d at respective sides of the vehicle), which captures imagesexterior of the vehicle, with the camera having a lens for focusingimages at or onto an imaging array or imaging plane or imager of thecamera (FIG. 1). Optionally, a forward viewing camera may be disposed atthe windshield of the vehicle and view through the windshield andforward of the vehicle, such as for a machine vision system (such as fortraffic sign recognition, headlamp control, pedestrian detection,collision avoidance, lane marker detection and/or the like). The visionsystem 12 includes a control or electronic control unit (ECU) orprocessor 18 that is operable to process image data captured by thecamera or cameras and may detect objects or the like and/or providedisplayed images at a display device 16 for viewing by the driver of thevehicle (although shown in FIG. 1 as being part of or incorporated in orat an interior rearview mirror assembly 20 of the vehicle, the controland/or the display device may be disposed elsewhere at or in thevehicle). The data transfer or signal communication from the camera tothe ECU may comprise any suitable data or communication link, such as avehicle network bus or the like of the equipped vehicle.

The camera assembly of the present invention comprises a mountingbracket and a camera portion and housing that reduces the total partcount and provides a more flexible method for assembly. In thisconstruction, the housing and bracket are one item which provides theadvantages of reduced cost, reduced processes in assembly, and moreaccurate positioning of the imager relative to the mounting features inthe vehicle. In addition, it is known that from camera to camera thatthe PCB will vary in position to optimize the focus and alignment of theimage. Typical methods to absorb this tolerance have been a flexibleprinted circuit, a floating housing, or spring contacts or the like. Theflexible printed circuit and spring contacts can be expensive,complicated, and may raise issues with electromagnetic interference. Thefloating housing method causes one half of the camera to purposely beoffset in position relative to the other, raising cosmetic concerns andmounting issues for some vehicle manufacturers.

The construction of the present invention provides a unique method toabsorb this tolerance using a connector plate external to the cameramodule. The variation in position of the connector plate would notaffect the mounting, cosmetics, or imager position. In addition, thisconstruction is very cost efficient because the connector engagesdirectly with the printed circuit board using a common surface mountheader. The construction of the present invention offers a modularstructure where a common lens and PCB assembly could accept a variety ofbracket-housings and connector plates to build unique applications foreach vehicle manufacturer.

For example, and such as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5-8, a camera assembly30 includes a mounting bracket 32 and a camera 34. The camera includesan imager 36 disposed at a circuit element or printed circuit board(PCB) 38 and includes a lens assembly 40 aligned with the imager 36 (seeFIGS. 13 and 14). As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the camera 34 has anouter or front camera housing portion 41 that accommodates the lensassembly and that is configured to mate with or attach to the brackethousing portion or rear housing portion 42 of the bracket 32. The PCB 38includes a connector or connecting circuitry or connecting element 44(such as a SMT header or other connecting element or circuitry) at theside of the PCB opposite the imager. When the front camera housingportion 41 is mated with the rear housing portion 42, the connectingcircuitry or element is generally aligned with an aperture 48 a throughthe attachment plate 48 of the rear camera housing portion 42.

The connector 44 of the PCB 38 electrically connects to terminals of aconnecting end of a connector 46, with the connecting end disposed at orprotruding through the aperture of the attachment plate, and with theconnector 46 including a connecting plate 46 a that is attached at theattachment plate or portion 48 of the mounting bracket 32, whereby thecamera 34 is sealed at the bracket 32. The connector 46 may comprise anysuitable connecting end (depending on the application) and the connectorplate 46 a is configured for attaching at the attachment plate 48 of thebracket. For example, the electrical connector 46 may comprise a 90degree connector or may comprise a wire harness 46′ (FIG. 4), dependingon the particular application of the camera assembly. The connectorplate is ready for direct connection with a vehicle harness, such as viathe 90 degree connector, or may exit at any angle and have any knownconnector configuration or geometry. The camera construction allows forvarious bracket-housings and connector plates to be interchanged fordifferent camera applications. Optionally, the electrical connector maycomprise an overmolded connector element with the connector plate moldedat the connecting end of the connector, such as by utilizing aspects ofthe connectors described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/341,048,filed on Nov. 2, 2016 by Conger et al. , now U.S. Pat. No. 10,250,004,which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

In the illustrated embodiment, the attachment plate 48 of the bracket 32has an opening or aperture therethrough for receiving the connecting endor portion of the electrical connector 46 in order to make electricalconnection to the connector or SMT header 44 of the PCB 38 when thecamera is attached at the bracket and/or when the electrical connector46 is attached at the bracket. The rear surface of the attachment plate48 includes a sealing element 50 that seals against the connector plateor portion 46 a of the electrical connector when the electricalconnector is attached at the bracket. The aperture of the attachmentplate may be slightly oversized relative to the connecting end of theconnector (in other words, a cross dimension of the aperture may beslightly greater than a corresponding cross dimension of the connectingend of the connector that is received in the aperture), such that theelectrical connector 46 (and its connecting end) may be laterallyadjusted relative to the attachment plate 48 and the connectingcircuitry 44 to align the connecting end of the connector 46 with theconnecting circuitry 44, without need for other tolerance compensatingconnectors or flexible circuits. When the connecting end of theconnector 46 is aligned with the connecting circuitry 44, the connectormay be pressed towards the camera housing to electrically connect theconnecting end of the connector 46 with the connecting circuitry 44 andto engage the connector plate 46 a with the attachment plate 48, wherebythe connector plate 46 a may be secured relative to the attachment plate48, such as via welding or fasteners or the like.

Optionally, and such as shown in FIGS. 9, 10, 12 and 13, the attachmentplate 48 of the bracket may also include weld ribs 52 to facilitatefastening of the connector plate 46 a of the electrical connector 46 atthe bracket. The welding may be via ultrasonic welding, laser welding,hot plate welding, friction welding, vibration welding, hot riveting,heat staking or the like. Optionally, and such as shown in FIG. 14, theconnector plate 46 a′ of the electrical connector 46 may be attached atthe attachment plate 48′ of the bracket 32′ via one or more fasteners52′ (if fasteners are used, the holes through the connector plate 46 afor the fasteners may be slightly oversized to allow for lateraladjustment of the connector relative to the threaded fastener holes (seeFIGS. 7 and 8) at the attachment plate).

The bracket 32 thus provides a support structure for the camera 34 andfor an electrical connector 46, while providing a desired mountingstructure or element 54 for mounting or attaching the camera assembly 30at a vehicle. For example, the mounting element 54 may comprise asnap-in type construction (or a screw-in or fastener type of bracketconstruction may also or otherwise be implemented). Optionally, and suchas shown in FIG. 15, the mounting structure or element 54′ may compriselatch features to facilitate a simple injection mold shape. Optionally,the bracket may be configured with mounting flanges 55 (FIGS. 16 and 17)for attachment at a vehicle with fasteners or screws or the like.

Thus, the camera assembly for a vision system of a vehicle includes acamera and a bracket and an electrical connector. The camera or cameramodule 34 comprises the lens assembly 40 and has the imager 36 disposedon the circuit element or PCB 18, with the outer camera housing portion41 supporting the lens assembly 40. The circuit element 38 includes theconnector (such as an SMT header or the like) 54 disposed at a surfacethereof generally opposite the imager 36. The bracket 32 comprises theouter bracket housing portion 42, the attachment plate 48 (having anaperture therethrough for making electrical connection to the connectorof the circuit element or PCB) and the mounting portion 54, with themounting portion configured to attach at a vehicle.

The PCB 38 and imager 36 and lens assembly 40 may be part of a cameramodule or unit, and may be received at the outer bracket housing portion42. A connecting end of the electrical connector 46 is at the connectorplate 46 a and protrudes through the aperture of the attachment platefor electrically connecting to the connector 44 at the PCB 38. Thus,when the outer camera housing portion is mated with the outer brackethousing portion, the connector of the circuit element is generallyaligned with the aperture of the attachment plate and the connecting endof the electrical connector (which may be laterally adjusted relative tothe connector of the circuit element and the attachment plate to alignits connecting end with the connector of the circuit element) protrudesthrough the aperture to electrically connect with the connector of thecircuit element.

The connector plate is attached at the attachment plate of the bracket,such as after alignment and electrical connection is made between theconnecting end of the electrical connector and the connector of thecircuit element. The connector plate may be attached at the attachmentplate via welding or fasteners, and a sealing element may be disposedaround the aperture to seal against the attachment plate and theconnector plate when the connector plate is attached at the attachmentplate. The mounting portion of the bracket may be configured to attachat a vehicle via a snap attachment or via at least one fastener or thelike, depending on the particular application of the camera assembly ofthe present invention.

Thus, a mounting bracket or bracket-housing piece 32 of the presentinvention may be designed for a particular vehicle or application (so asto attach to the vehicle and provide a desired viewing angle of thecamera when the bracket and camera are attached at the vehicle) and mayallow for selection of a particular or desired camera (having aparticular imager and lens assembly for a particular application) thatmay be readily attached at the bracket. Optionally, the camera (havingthe imager and lens assembly) may comprise a common or universal cameraand may be readily attached at a particular bracket for a particularapplication or vehicle, thereby providing ease of manufacturing of thecamera assembly and adapting of the camera assembly for a particularvehicle application. The electrical connection to the SMT header of thePCB of the camera is done via the connector end of the electricalconnector that attaches at the rear of the bracket, and thus tolerancescan be accommodated for during the connection of the electricalconnector, without costly additional tolerance compensating connectorsor the like. The connector plate of the connector may be movably oradjustably positioned at the rear of the attachment plate toelectrically connect to the connector or SMT header of the PCB of thecamera, and then may be welded or otherwise attached at the rear of thebracket attachment plate, thereby sealing the connector at the rear ofthe bracket. Thus, the camera has a separate connector piece thatfollows the circuit board and that is plugged into the housing and theconnecting circuitry and then staked or welded or fastened to thebracket and/or housing. The lens housing of the camera may also besealed at the outer end of the outer housing 42 of the bracket to sealthe camera at the bracket so as to provide a watertight camera andbracket assembly or module for attachment at a vehicle.

Therefore, the camera assembly and assembly process of the presentinvention provides for adaptation of a universal or common camera for aparticular vehicle application. The front housing portion is providedwith the lens and the circuit board and imager may be attached to thefront housing portion with the imager optically centered and alignedwith the lens. The rear housing portion is mated or joined with thefront housing portion, with the rear housing portion being selected tohave the desired or appropriate or selected mounting structure formounting the camera at the vehicle. The electrical connector is selected(such as a socket connection or wire or cable connection) for theparticular electrical connection at that vehicle. The electricalconnector is disposed at the rear attachment portion of the camerahousing and the connecting end of the connector is inserted or receivedin the aperture of the rear attachment portion and aligned with (such asvia lateral adjustment of the connecting end relative to the apertureand connecting element) and electrically connected with the connectingelement of the circuit board. When the connecting end of the connectoris electrically connected to (such as via being plugged into) theconnecting element of the circuit board, the flange or structuralelement of the connector is attached at the rear attachment portion ofthe rear housing (such as via fasteners or welding or the like). When soattached, the flange or structural element of the connector engages therear attachment portion and/or a seal disposed between the rearattachment portion and flange to seal the camera around the aperture ofthe rear attachment plate.

The camera or sensor may comprise any suitable camera or sensor.Optionally, the camera may comprise a “smart camera” that includes theimaging sensor array and associated circuitry and image processingcircuitry and electrical connectors and the like as part of a cameramodule, such as by utilizing aspects of the vision systems described inInternational Publication Nos. WO 2013/081984 and/or WO 2013/081985,which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

The system includes an image processor operable to process image datacaptured by the camera or cameras, such as for detecting objects orother vehicles or pedestrians or the like in the field of view of one ormore of the cameras. For example, the image processor may comprise animage processing chip selected from the EyeQ family of image processingchips available from Mobileye Vision Technologies Ltd. of Jerusalem,Israel, and may include object detection software (such as the typesdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,855,755; 7,720,580 and/or 7,038,577, whichare hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties), andmay analyze image data to detect vehicles and/or other objects.Responsive to such image processing, and when an object or other vehicleis detected, the system may generate an alert to the driver of thevehicle and/or may generate an overlay at the displayed image tohighlight or enhance display of the detected object or vehicle, in orderto enhance the driver's awareness of the detected object or vehicle orhazardous condition during a driving maneuver of the equipped vehicle.

The vehicle may include any type of sensor or sensors, such as imagingsensors or radar sensors or lidar sensors or ladar sensors or ultrasonicsensors or the like. The imaging sensor or camera may capture image datafor image processing and may comprise any suitable camera or sensingdevice, such as, for example, a two dimensional array of a plurality ofphotosensor elements arranged in at least 640 columns and 480 rows (atleast a 640×480 imaging array, such as a megapixel imaging array or thelike), with a respective lens focusing images onto respective portionsof the array. The photosensor array may comprise a plurality ofphotosensor elements arranged in a photosensor array having rows andcolumns. Preferably, the imaging array has at least 300,000 photosensorelements or pixels, more preferably at least 500,000 photosensorelements or pixels and more preferably at least 1 million photosensorelements or pixels. The imaging array may capture color image data, suchas via spectral filtering at the array, such as via an RGB (red, greenand blue) filter or via a red/red complement filter or such as via anRCC (red, clear, clear) filter or the like. The logic and controlcircuit of the imaging sensor may function in any known manner, and theimage processing and algorithmic processing may comprise any suitablemeans for processing the images and/or image data.

For example, the vision system and/or processing and/or camera and/orcircuitry may utilize aspects described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,694,224;7,005,974; 5,760,962; 5,877,897; 5,796,094; 5,949,331; 6,302,545;6,396,397; 6,498,620; 6,523,964; 6,611,202; 6,201,642; 6,690,268;6,717,610; 6,757,109; 6,802,617; 6,806,452; 6,822,563; 6,891,563;6,946,978; 7,859,565; 5,550,677; 5,670,935; 7,881,496; 7,720,580;7,038,577; 6,882,287; 5,929,786 and/or 5,786,772, which are all herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties. The system maycommunicate with other communication systems via any suitable means,such as by utilizing aspects of the systems described in InternationalPublication Nos. WO/2010/144900; WO 2013/043661 and/or WO 2013/081985,and/or U.S. Publication No. US-2012-0062743, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

The imaging device and control and image processor and any associatedillumination source, if applicable, may comprise any suitablecomponents, and may utilize aspects of the cameras (such as variousimaging sensors or imaging array sensors or cameras or the like, such asa CMOS imaging array sensor, a CCD sensor or other sensors or the like)and vision systems described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,760,962; 5,715,093;6,922,292; 6,757,109; 6,717,610; 6,590,719; 6,201,642; 5,796,094;6,559,435; 6,831,261; 6,822,563; 6,946,978; 7,720,580; 8,542,451;7,965,336; 7,480,149; 5,550,677; 5,877,897; 6,498,620; 5,670,935;5,796,094; 6,396,397; 6,806,452; 6,690,268; 7,005,974; 7,937,667;7,123,168; 7,004,606; 6,946,978; 7,038,577; 6,353,392; 6,320,176;6,313,454 and/or 6,824,281, and/or International Publication Nos. WO2009/036176; WO 2009/046268; WO 2010/099416; WO 2011/028686 and/or WO2013/016409, and/or U.S. Pat. Publication Nos. US 2010-0020170 and/orUS-2009-0244361, which are all hereby incorporated herein by referencein their entireties.

Optionally, the vision system may include a display for displayingimages captured by one or more of the imaging sensors for viewing by thedriver of the vehicle while the driver is normally operating thevehicle. Optionally, the vision system (utilizing the forward facingcamera and a rearward facing camera and other cameras disposed at thevehicle with exterior fields of view) may be part of or may provide adisplay of a top-down view or birds-eye view system of the vehicle or asurround view at the vehicle, such as by utilizing aspects of the visionsystems described in International Publication Nos. WO 2010/099416; WO2011/028686; WO 2012/075250; WO 2013/019795; WO 2012/075250; WO2012/145822; WO 2013/081985; WO 2013/086249 and/or WO 2013/109869,and/or U.S. Publication No. US-2012-0162427, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments canbe carried out without departing from the principles of the invention,which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appendedclaims, as interpreted according to the principles of patent lawincluding the doctrine of equivalents.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A camera assembly for a vision system of avehicle, said camera assembly comprising: a front housing portioncomprising a lens; a circuit board having a first side and a second sideseparated by a thickness of said circuit board, wherein an imager isdisposed at said first side of said circuit board and is opticallyaligned with said lens, and wherein circuitry is disposed at said secondside of said circuit board and electrically connected with said imager,and wherein said circuitry comprises an electrical connecting element atsaid second side of said circuit board; a rear housing portionconfigured to join with said front housing portion, wherein said rearhousing portion comprises a rear attachment portion that has an aperturetherethrough, and wherein said rear housing portion comprises a mountingportion configured to attach at a vehicle; an electrical connector forelectrically connecting a wire harness of the vehicle to said electricalconnecting element of said circuit board, wherein said electricalconnector comprises a first connecting end for electrically connectingto the wire harness of the vehicle and a second connecting end forelectrically connecting to said electrical connecting element of saidcircuit board, and wherein said second connecting end protrudes from astructural element of said electrical connector; wherein, when saidfront housing portion is joined with said rear housing portion, saidelectrical connecting element of said circuit board is aligned with saidaperture of said rear attachment portion; wherein, with said fronthousing portion joined with said rear housing portion, and with saidstructural element of said electrical connector positioned at saidaperture of said rear attachment portion, said second connecting end ofsaid electrical connector protrudes through said aperture toelectrically connect to said electrical connecting element of saidcircuit board; wherein, with said front housing portion joined with saidrear housing portion, and with said structural element of saidelectrical connector positioned at said aperture of said rear attachmentportion, and with said second connecting end electrically connected tosaid electrical connecting element of said circuit board, saidstructural element is attached at an outer surface of said rearattachment portion of said rear housing portion around said aperture toattach said electrical connector to said rear housing portion and tomaintain electrical connection of said second connecting end of saidelectrical connector with said electrical connecting element of saidcircuit board; and wherein, with said structural element attached atsaid outer surface of said rear attachment portion of said rear housingportion around said aperture, said structural element is at leastpartially exterior of said rear housing portion.
 2. The camera assemblyof claim 1, wherein said structural element is attached at said rearattachment portion after electrical connection is made between saidsecond connecting end of said electrical connector and said electricalconnecting element of said circuit board.
 3. The camera assembly ofclaim 1, wherein said structural element is attached at said outersurface of said rear attachment portion via welding.
 4. The cameraassembly of claim 1, wherein said structural element is attached at saidouter surface of said rear attachment portion via fasteners.
 5. Thecamera assembly of claim 1, comprising a sealing element disposed atsaid rear attachment portion and circumscribing said aperture to sealagainst said outer surface of said rear attachment portion and saidstructural element when said structural element is attached at saidouter surface of said rear attachment portion.
 6. The camera assembly ofclaim 1, wherein said mounting portion of said rear housing portion isconfigured to attach at the vehicle via a snap attachment.
 7. The cameraassembly of claim 1, wherein said mounting portion of said rear housingportion is configured to attach at the vehicle via at least onefastener.
 8. The camera assembly of claim 1, wherein said aperture ofsaid rear attachment portion has a cross dimension that is larger than across dimension of said second connecting end of said electricalconnector to allow for lateral adjustment of said second connecting endrelative to said electrical connecting element during assembly of saidcamera assembly.
 9. The camera assembly of claim 1, wherein saidstructural element is laterally adjustable relative to said rearattachment portion to align said second connecting end of saidelectrical connector with said electrical connecting element of saidcircuit board before attaching said structural element at said outersurface of said rear attachment portion.
 10. The camera assembly ofclaim 9, wherein adjustment and connection of said second connecting endrelative to said electrical connecting element is made without atolerance compensating flexible circuit element.
 11. The camera assemblyof claim 1, wherein said first connecting end of said electricalconnector comprises a socket element.
 12. The camera assembly of claim1, wherein said first connecting end of said electrical connectorcomprises a cable having a plurality of electrically conductive wires.13. The camera assembly of claim 1, wherein said structural elementcomprises an attaching flange that engages and attaches at said outersurface of said rear attachment portion around said aperture.
 14. Acamera assembly for a vision system of a vehicle, said camera assemblycomprising: a front housing portion comprising a lens; a circuit boardhaving a first side and a second side separated by a thickness of saidcircuit board, wherein an imager is disposed at said first side of saidcircuit board and is optically aligned with said lens, and whereincircuitry is disposed at said second side of said circuit board andelectrically connected with said imager, and wherein said circuitrycomprises an electrical connecting element at said second side of saidcircuit board; a rear housing portion configured to join with said fronthousing portion, wherein said rear housing portion comprises a rearattachment portion that has an aperture therethrough, and wherein saidrear housing portion comprises a mounting portion configured to attachat a vehicle; a sealing element disposed at an outer surface of saidrear attachment portion and circumscribing said aperture; an electricalconnector for electrically connecting a wire harness of the vehicle tosaid electrical connecting element of said circuit board, wherein saidelectrical connector comprises a first connecting end for electricallyconnecting to the wire harness of the vehicle and a second connectingend for electrically connecting to said electrical connecting element ofsaid circuit board, and wherein said second connecting end protrudesfrom a structural element of said electrical connector; wherein saidstructural element comprises an attaching flange that is configured toengage said sealing element and said rear attachment portion around saidaperture when said second connecting end is connected to said electricalconnecting element of said circuit board; wherein, when said fronthousing portion is joined with said rear housing portion, saidelectrical connecting element of said circuit board is aligned with saidaperture of said rear attachment portion; wherein, with said fronthousing portion joined with said rear housing portion, and with saidstructural element of said electrical connector positioned at saidaperture of said rear attachment portion, said second connecting end ofsaid electrical connector protrudes through said aperture toelectrically connect to said electrical connecting element of saidcircuit board; wherein, with said front housing portion joined with saidrear housing portion, and with said structural element of saidelectrical connector positioned at said aperture of said rear attachmentportion, and with said second connecting end electrically connected tosaid electrical connecting element of said circuit board, saidstructural element is attached at said rear attachment portion of saidrear housing portion to attach said electrical connector to said rearhousing portion and to maintain electrical connection of said secondconnecting end of said electrical connector with said electricalconnecting element of said circuit board; wherein said sealing elementseals against said rear attachment portion and said structural elementwhen said structural element is attached at said rear attachmentportion; and wherein, with said structural element attached at said rearattachment portion of said rear housing portion around said aperture,said structural element is at least partially exterior of said rearhousing portion.
 15. The camera assembly of claim 14, wherein saidstructural element is attached at said rear attachment portion via oneselected from the group consisting of welding and fasteners.
 16. Thecamera assembly of claim 14, wherein said aperture of said rearattachment portion has a cross dimension that is larger than a crossdimension of said second connecting end of said electrical connector toallow for lateral adjustment of said second connecting end relative tosaid electrical connecting element during assembly of said cameraassembly.